Connecter



Jan. 10, 1939.

H. L. HARTZELL CONNECTER Filed June 9, 193

I INVENTOR Hznmm l... HARTZELL.

BY MATTORNE YS Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTER Application June 9, 1934, Serial No. 729,819

2 Claims.

This invention relates to terminal connecters adapted for use in the electrical art, and more particularly for devices utilized in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for connecting an insulated stranded wire conductor with a conducting part in a manner as to insure the greatest electrical efliciency and to provide for a connection that can be readily released and securely held against accidental displacement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a construction which will be substantially moisture proof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the terminal connecter, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and is drawn on a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, a fragment of a metallic tubular casing 20 of an ignition coil is shown. The casing supports a cover 2| to close one end of the casing as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cover includes a body 22 of insulating material carrying an annular member 23 provided with a flange 23a to fit about the casing 20. The flange is attached to the casing in any suitable manner, such as soldering or the like. The lower side of the body 22 is provided with a downwardly extending skirt 24 which encloses the upper end of a magnetic core 25 comprising a bundle of iron wires. The core is connected with an inside winding of a secondary winding located within the casing, not shown. The upper side of the body 23 is provided with a tubular extension 30 having an annular groove 3|, a tapered recess 32, and a transverse opening 33.

A metallic insert 35 is embedded within the body 22 and is provided with an axial bore 36 tapped at one end, and a transverse opening 31 which intersects the axial bore. The transverse opening 3! of the insert is in alignment with the transverse opening 33 of the body 22. The openings are adapted to receive an end of an electric conducting cable 40. The other end of the axial bore is reduced as at 38 through which a pin or nail 39 protrudes. The nail is forced into the bundle of wires, comprising the core 25, thus providing a good electrical connection between the inside winding of the secondary winding and the insert.

A cap nut or plug 4| is adapted to threadably engage the tapped portion of the insert 35 to provide for an electrical connection between the strand wires of the cable 40 and the insert and at the same time secure the cable within the openings 33 and 31 so as to resist accidental removal of the cable 40 unless the plug 4| is removed from the insert. The cap nut or plug 4| comprises an insulating body portion having a knurled head 42, to facilitate turning of the plug, and a tapered portion 43 complementary to the tapered portion 32 of the extension 3|. The insulating body portion of the plug carries a conducting element 44 which is permanently secured or fastened in position to the body at the time of molding the plug providing the element 44 with a knurled portion so that the conducting element remains in a fixed position. The conducting element also includes a threaded portion 45 and a tapered portion or needle 46.

When it is desired to secure the cable 40 within the body 2|, and to electrically connect the strand wires to the insert 35, the needle portion 46 of the plug 4| is inserted into the recess 32 and through the tapped portion 36 of the insert so that the needle 46 will pierce the insulation of the cable. By threading of the cap-nut into the insert, the needle will be forced to pass through the insulation and the strand wires of the cable to electrically connect the wires with the insert 35 and urge the insulation against the walls of the opening 31 to form a tight fit. While the plug 4| is being threaded into the insert 35, the tapered portion 43 of the plug will tightly engage the tapered recess 32 of the extension 30, thus forming a seal between the plug 4| and the body 2| to prevent moisture from seeping to the insert. The groove 3| also serves to collect moisture and aids to prevent moisture from entering the recess.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a device of the character described for connecting an end of a cable for electrical purposes, the combination comprising, a housing having an open end, a cover for closing the open end of the housing, said cover carrying an insulating block having a boss provided with a tapered recess and an annular groove arranged on the outer surface of the boss, a metal insert embedded in the block, said insert having a tapped bore arranged coaxially with the tapered recess and a. transverse opening in communication with the bore, means for electrically connecting the insert with a conducting part within the housing, and a molded insulated plug carrying a pointed conducting screw for electrically connecting the cable introduced in the transverse opening with the in- 1 sort, said plug having a flanged portion and a tapered portion complementary to the taper of the recess, the threading of the plug into the insert causing the flanged portion of the plug to extend over the annular groove and bear against the boss and the tapered portion to fit tightly in the recess to provide a seal between the boss and the plug and causing the pointed screw to pass through the cable to electrically connect same with the insert and pressing the cable outwardly against the walls of the transverse opening to provide a seal between the cable and the block.

2. In a device of the character described for connecting an end of a cable for electrical purposes, the combination comprising; a housing having an open end; a non-conducting cover for closing the open end of the housing, said cover provided with a recess, a groove about the recess on the outer surface of the cover and a transverse opening; a metal insert embedded in the cover and having a tapped bore arranged coaxially with the recess and a transverse opening in communica tion with the bore and the transverse opening of the cover; means for electrically connecting the insert with a conducting part within the housing; and a body of insulating material carrying a pointed conducting screw for electrically connecting the cable introduced in the transverse openings with the insert, said body having a shoulder and a reduced portion, the threading of the body into the insert causing the shoulder of the body to project beyond the groove, and against the cover, and the reduced portion to fit tightly within the recess to provide a moisture seal between the cover and the body and causing the pointed screw to pass through the cable and expand the cable within the transverse openings to provide a moisture seal between the cable and the body.

HERMAN L. HARTZELL. 

